Arsenal v Everton: Preview

10 December 2011 10:14

Arsenal will be without Andre Santos for the Barclays Premier League game against Everton after the Brazil full-back suffered an ankle injury in the midweek Champions League defeat at Olympiacos.

Goalkeepers Lukasz Fabianski (knee) and Vito Mannone (shoulder) also picked up injuries in Greece, so veteran Manuel Almunia will make a rare return to the first-team squad.

Captain Robin van Persie was rested in midweek, along with several other key men, but midfielders Abou Diaby (hamstring) and Ryo Miyaichi (ankle) are still out, along with defenders Carl Jenkinson (back), Kieran Gibbs (hernia) and Bacary Sagna (ankle), while midfielder Jack Wilshere (ankle) is not expected back until the new year.

Everton boss David Moyes will once again be without midfielder Jack Rodwell.

Moyes has revealed that Rodwell, who only made his comeback from a rib injury last weekend as a substitute in the 1-0 loss to Stoke, will not feature at the Emirates Stadium due to a hamstring problem he picked up in training on Thursday.

Fellow midfield men Leon Osman (hamstring) and Royston Drenthe (foot) will be assessed ahead of kick-off, while Moyes is hopeful that striker Louis Saha will be able to return to action after a thigh complaint.